That sky, going to fall any mintue now.

Now as Cazzesman will attest I'm not Mr. Positivity who thinks that every kid will make it and that every player to put on a Carlton jumper is a champion or even a good player but I think people are going more than a little overboard with all the negativity. Yeah sure we were bad on Friday, actually we were appaling, but unlike in previous years that effort was an abbreviation. They had one poor night where they weren't mentally up playing against a top 4 side full of confidence and ready to prove themselves after getting beaten the previous week. You can't just take one game and make wholesale judgements on an entire team in isolation. Everyone was revved up about the same 22 four days ago on the back of some impressive performances in the previous two weeks against two current top 8 teams. So what has changed?

Ackland isn't a top class ruckman
Ackland has never been a top class ruckman and is just a buffer until his replacement comes along in two or three years. We know this. We knew this before Friday.

Lance is slow
This is news to just about anyone? I don't think so. We were all well aware of Lances issues, and besides we all know he won't be playing AFL footy in two-three years so this isn't a long term issue. Get over it.

The midfield lacks leadership
What a surprise that is. Who would've thought that with Stevens out for the year and our midfield being led by a 19 year old that our midfield might lack leadership? I'm in shock.

Our defense leaks like a sieve
We had the most points kicked against us this time last week and we have the most now. This is not a new issue and has to do with our style of play. Our gameplan requires us to have an effective rebounding backline which can take plenty of pressure. A backline of Saddington, Lance, Thornton, Bannister and Gibbs isn't going to get the job done and the new rules attacking backman and promoting flooding accordingly aren't helping matters in the regard. Gibbs and Thornton are excellent players but neither of them are Matthew Scarlett or Stephen Silvagni. This issue is well know and with the club clearly working to resolve the issue through the recruitment of Bower, Flint, Austin, Hartlett and trying Waite and O'hAilpin down there what exactly are we whinging about?

None of these negatives are news to anyone, or at least shouldn't be, but just because there are negatives doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of positives. If you look at the last match in isolation you might ask, what positves? I ask you why the hell should we ignore all the many positives and improvements we've seen so far this year and concentrate on one match just because it happens to be the most recent? If you showed someone a video of the Port game in isolation they might ask, what negatives?

We're only half way through the year and I think if you give the team a chance they'll give us all more than a little bit of joy before the year is out. The kids are young and they're the stars of the team. While we're not ready yet the base is strong for a brighter future and that's something that should excite us enough to forgive them these occasional birthing pains.

Go Blues!

I think the problem isn't the negatives

but rather that the negatives

are the same ones

McKernan
Mott
McLaren
Ackland

for example

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

we required an immediate replacement for french and ackland was the only player available... we picked him up very cheaply .. if lance does retire we will have loads of room to move on the salary cap. ackland had a solid 2-3 weeks but the collective team effort was lousy it wasn't only ackland albeit he is a 2nd string ruck at best.

the three clubs that trounced us will be fighting for the flag.. west coast, geelong and the hawks....1st, 2nd & 3rd on the ladder....

it is expected that we will be so far away from the leading top three clubs the difference between us and 6th placed team on the ladder is not that great.

Dont worry about a picture of Chicken Little - how about a picture of Bob the Builder and ask the question "Can we fix it?"

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Only one poor night you have to be kidding right!!???
After 12 rounds so far this season can you tell us how many times we have been pumped by over 60 points???

Pumpings:

1. Geelong
2. West Coast
3. Hawthorn

Top Teams on Ladder:

1. Geelong
2. West Coast
3. Hawthorn

Andain finally writes something positive and your jumping him for that.

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dane's trolling again

Great post Andain.

I'm extremely positive about the future; positive about next game in fact.

Yes, it's a week to week prposition and you're only as good as your last game. I have always maintained a sense of positiveness. In fact the what I've been saying since the Hawks game is that we can only afford to drop 3 more games (max) if we are to make the finals. Put it this way, I'm hopeful.

Having said that, I am really upset and annoyed at some serious glaring issues; obvious to everyone in the football community and yes it happens to be Carlton issues.

I think the real issues that have many upset are:

Lance:

If he has not been able to train for the last 5 weeks and hasn't been able to maintain the level of fitness required to play the game (Steven Icke), then why has he been selected? Selecting him isn't doing him or the club any good.

Lance didn't even complete a preseason, and he was overweight during the preseason because of his inability to train (and maybe other reasons). He resembled nothing of the player he was early last year. He was riding a bike whilst everyone else was building a fitness level (stamina and strength) in the pre season; not a good sign for Lance. nevertheless, regardless of everyone knowing what an interupted preseason means for Lance, he was given the captaincy, at considerable risk.

We were sold a lie, and it was obvious; off field issues were effecting his game. Before he even crossed that line in the NAB Cup, I suggested he hot be named as captain, despite the fact that over a year ago I was suggesting he was the heir apparent, but they were different circumstances. We were sold a lie...it wasn't the off field issues, it was his degenerative knee and lack of fitness that were and still are the problem.

So the issue with Lance, is not Lance the person and Carlton legend, the problem I/many have is with those that have selected him and put him in a position of ridicule throughout amongst the wider football community. Why select a player who is not fit enough to endure the physical requirements of the game.

Is it any wonder why the whole community is discussing Lance, his body and his (lack of) output?

Ackland:

The issue with Ackland is similar to Lance regarding his fitness. This guy took on a 3 year contract to act and perform like a senior AFL player is expected to. A contract of 3 years was what it would take to get him over; he is young, he has no degenerative body issues, hence has upside and was already playing at senior level ie conditioned to play at the requaired level, so yeah I understand why he was drafted. As a buffer.

So if he was already conditioned to play senior footy and offerrred a 3 year contract to play at that level, why did he turn up to the club with a body that was out of condition? The condition his body was in when he turned up at the preseason was hopeless; remember Gibbs running back after completing his long run, to help Sugar to the post? Come on, a 17 yo coaching a seasoned 23 year old body to the finish line, that is ridiculous, and the problem was obvious from the outset.

He has not been solid, and has played no where near his best. He left that behind at St Kilda. It's glaringly obvious to me. He has played 1 competitive game against his old club, because he had a point to prove to them, as well as being challenged by the MC because he was treading a fine line..he was close to being dropped. Given that background, why didn't he try on Friday. Yes he didn't even try. Why doesn't he try hard every week; he's a professional footballer FFS.

So my problem is that Ackland is being selected week in week out, only to bring the level of commitment and level of professionalism of the team to a new low. It all starts in the middle and Ackland was only happy to pick up his cheque. He forgot everything else associated with that Carlton generated cheque.

Again, who I'm critical of is the selectors and coaches who let him get away with such a pathetic commitment to his new team mates and great club. It should be a privelege for him to play in the jumper of legend, but for him it's just another club (his 3rd in 5 years).

Defence and Midfield

And then we wonder why our defence and midfield are under the pump. Lack of leadership and commitment amongst those 2 groups isn't the issue...it's deeper; our team is as good as its weekest links. If the big men in Lance and Ackland can't support the team plan and team mates, and if they don't support, lead and feed the midfield, nullify the opposition ruckman, or at least compete with him, then of course we're going to get done in the midfield (doesn't matter if it's young or experienced), and the defense is going to have an unfair overdemanding assault on them from opposition forward entry. They are good enough, just overwhelmed by the copious amount of easy entry into the opposition's forwardline.

We have a very good list, and we need to make some hard changes regarding Lance, Ackland and Saddo. Ackland must be dropped (to get his head out of his arse), Lance must be rested (and retired gracefully) and Saddo must be replaced with Bower, Hartlett....one of the kids who can run and jump, and has shown signs that they will belong in the future.

It's Blue skies for me, just can't handle the elementary blues the selectors and coach are making atm.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Exactly - a young, inexperienced, over-awed team beaten by teams that will factor in the finals in a big way this year.

Andain, I never thought I would say this - but what a teriffic balanced post. I'm one that has bagged you in the past for your inherent pessimism, but here you are telling it how it is - and these same points that are being brought this week after 'the loss' are the same points we have all been going over all season.

In thinking that I'm probably *in general* the polar opposite to you, in that I'm way too optimistic for my own good (and, with matches like these setting myself up for a fall) - it's plain to see that matches like this are going to occur. Midway through last season, didn't the Hawks have two 100+ point beltings? Hasn't really harmed them that much now, has it?

This loss may affect the team mentally somewhat, but the Blues are still starting to get that winning mentality back. Fighting tooth and nail (even in the West Coast match) has been great to watch as a Carlton supporter - the Geelong match, and last week's loss - were an aberration.

Good point SB, Hawthorn were beaten by 10+ goals, four times last year.

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|♥♥♥♥♥♥| http://www.blueseum.org |♥♥♥♥♥♥|

Ackland is on 900K over three years according to a sniggering Craig Hutchinson who provided that info on footy classified...I dont call that cheap for someone who is next to useless.
French provided a contest, Ackland cant be bothered doing much of anything even minding the mark while an opposing player kicks at goal.
Gary Lyon even found it amusing and highlighted Ackalnds lack of effort..

It was a lousy piece of recruiting that the majority of TC were opposed to....pure stupidity to draft a 196cm journeyman ruckman with an aversion to hard work, full credit to his manager though for an impressive performance in hoodwinking the club into signing him for a three year deal....

Lance....we knew he was slow we just didnt expect him to come to a complete dead stop..

The team lacks leadership not just the midfield.....some senior players dont contribute anything when we are down...

I'd like the backline resolved....the players Andain suggested need some game time not being used as token list fill..ie Flint, Hartlett,, Austin etc....Hartlett had one game and was exited back to the two's..hows that helping him develop....
Flint is an accountable defender...do what some other clubs do...take some risks and try players..we need an accountable defender not more sweepers to block the holes in that leaking defense.
Jamison has been ok even in some poor losses from the Bullants, consider promoting him......

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Just another example of pathetic list management from the football department

A young, inexperienced over-awed side?

By all means defend the players and coaches all you want but please stop trotting out the nonsense Denis feeds you.
The team that beat us by 100 points on Friday was easily younger and more inexperienced.
The all conquering West Coast fielded a team last week that was younger than our Friday night team and Geelongs weekend team was virtually identical in age and experience to ours.

Why are'nt they overawed and looking for pathetic excuses?

People within the club should be responsible for their actions. Players and coaches alike.
Making excuses only frees them of the responsibility and expectation.
I dont want to see anyone lynched but there is a recurring theme here that wont go away by itself.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

On average age of the entire team you're 100% correct, these teams are as young as our team on average but averages can be decieving. A more accurate statement on the 'youth' of a team can be measured by looking solely on the playmakers, the leaders of the team who are the stars of the show week in and week out.

West Coast (Grand Final): Chis Judd (23), Ben Cousins (28), Daniel Kerr (23), Andrew Embley (25), Dean Cox (25), Quinten Lynch (23), David Wirrapunda (27), Darren Glass (25)

Average age (rounded down): 24.875

Hawthorn (last Friday): Luke Hodge (23), Sam Mitchell (24), Shane Crawford (32), Jordan Lewis (21), Brad Sewell (23), Campbell Brown (23), Trent Croad (27), Chance Bateman (25)

Average age (rounded down): 24.75

Carlton: Andrew Carrazzo (23), Kade Simpson (23), Bret Thornton (23), Heath Scotland (26), Marc Murphy (19), Andrew Walker (21), Jarrad Waite (24), Brendan Fevola (26)

Average age (rounded down): 23.125

That's almost two years of experience over our senior group. No doubt Stevens will bring that experience when he gets back but he isn't here and we have to face facts that the core of our team is still relatively young even compared to some of the youngest teams in the league.

Why isn't Lance our captain there in your leaders?

I think it was Freudian?

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They coud'nt.....could they?

And that's the main reason why I was so upset to see Bannister getting a game. These players have to be given chances to prove themselves one way or the other, chances that players like Saddington and Bannister have had on numerous occasions. The talent is there, even Kennedy might end up down back one day, and in the hands of a quality coach who can get the best out of our youngsters who knows, we might find that we do have a Matthew Scarlett after all.

But that's just one issue, and when you're a bottom four team that's just starting to see the light after a long dark winter there are always issues still to be found, lets talk about the positives. Lets talk about Carrazzo stepping up to become an elite midfielder (who saw that one coming?). Lets talk about Murphy taking the best tagger week in and week out and still making an impact. Lets talk about Waite starting to show signs that he's throwing off his inconsistency and putting some quality performances on the board back to back. Lets talk about Simmo's steady improvement after an interrupted preseason and his willingness to stand up and fight when everyone else has decided to lay down. Lets talk about a less Fevola centric forward line coming together with some impressive performances from Fisher. Lets talk about Setanta and the incrediable strides he's making every week he walks onto the field.

The signs of a revival are clear. Don't be despairing too much just because we got thrashed in one game right after all you're hopes had been inflated by a couple of good performances in a row.

Is he one of our stars this year? Does he lead the team to victory through his great matchwinning performances?

That's what I meant by lead and as such Lance didn't qualify. Nor would Harley of the Cats or Vandenburg of the Hawks eveen though I'm sure both do plenty off the field, or as onfield generals.

Absolutely spot on.

Since when does a player need experience to have pride in his own performance.

We and the club seem to eager to trott out the experience excuse time and time again.

Too many people seem to be just going through the motions when teams get on top of us knowing that the coaches can wheel out the same old excuse.

Its about time some real accountability was introduced (or re-introduced depending on which Carlton era you belong to).

Unfortunately that's the 3rd flogging this year.

Try telling that to Pratt who has an expectation of 9-10 wins this year too

And Hawthorn suffered five thumpings last year. It can turn around quickly.